Prashanti Diary, A chronicle of Heaven on Earth - July 2004

[Guest guest]

On Sunday, July 25, 2004, the High School boys celebrated their Hostel

Anniversary Day by putting up a play entitled, “Sai Prem”. The boys had a

couple of days earlier shown Swami a handcrafted model of their Hostel Building

and had obtained His permission to stage a play in His Divine presence on

Sunday.

Showing Him a handcrafted model of their hostel building

“Sai Prem”, a drama in 4 parts, drew upon real life stories of how Swami had

made a difference in the lives of the students. He had either helped them at

critical moments in their lives or had transformed them irrevocably and put

them on the God-ward path putting their wayward ways behind them. They also

dramatized one of Swami’s “Chinna Katha”.

Krishna playing hide and seek with the demon

The story, ‘The Winning Smile’, depicts the story of how Krishna won over a

demon easily by His smile and played with the it (who had actually come to

attack the camp) when it was His turn to guard his companions in a dense

forest. The other companions who had guarded the camp in turn earlier, however,

had to fight hard to fend the demon off; thus demonstrating that love conquers

all, under all circumstances. The drama had soul touching songs and also a

lively “bhangra dance” that kept the audience engrossed and engaged.

A lively Bhangra dance by the High School Students on July 25

On 27th July Swami stood in the front of the verandah and talked to many

students and accepted their letters. He then blessed 2 student speakers.

Darshan from the middle verandah on July 26

The students spoke movingly and feelingly about their love for Swami and their

gratitude for all that He has done for them. Following this, Swami asked Sri T.

Ravikumar, a lecturer from the Brindavan campus to speak to the audience.

Sri Ravi Kumar addressing the crowd on July 27th

Sri Ravikumar, just a few moments earlier, had his new pair of glasses blessed

by Bhagavan. Speaking before the crowd, he explained how twice his eyes had

been burned by acid falling in them during the course of his Ph.D. work. Not

only his eyesight but both his eyes had been destroyed on both occasions.

Swami, out of His love, had restored his eyes both times!

Receiving a violin from the Lord

On July 28th, Swami’s benevolence was manifest, once again, when He had two

brand new violins brought and handed them over to the Music College and

Institute boys. With child-like enthusiasm He had the violins taken out of

their cases and personally inspected both before handing them over to the

surprised but elated students. It did not stop there. He had the students

immediately play a song for Him with their brand new violins; waiting while the

brand-new violins were being tuned and waxed and then listening with rapt

attention while the students serenaded Him with a couple of songs. He then

blessed three student speakers; two from the college (one of whom spoke in

Telugu) and the other from the High School.

High School speaker on July 28th

All of them recounted absorbing stories either from Swami’s life or from their

personal experiences with Him to enthrall the crowd. This was followed by Sri

Anil Kumar, always a great crowd favorite, who reiterated and reemphasized the

points the students had made and also added a few experiences of his own.

A violin concert on July 29 just for Him

July 29th saw a violin concert by the students. With the addition of two more

violins, a violin quartet now performed for Him. Swami’s love really knows no

bounds. Even without their asking, His love had responded by giving them the

additional violins they required. The enthused students performed like

professional artistes or even better, as they played with their hearts to

express their deep love and gratitude to Bhagavan for His touching and

thoughtful gesture.

Blessing the Birthday Boys on July 30th

On July 30th, Bhagavan came to Sai Kulwant Hall amidst the Veda Chants. After

blessing the “birthday boys”, He gave permission for three student to speak.

Again the boys spoke about their Sai Maa, and Her incomparable love and care

for them. These are all ordinary boys, who become extraordinary public speakers

when talking about the one and true love of their young lives – their Beloved

Swami.

Lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Festival on Indian Culture and Spirituality

A two-day festival on Indian Culture and Spirituality was celebrated in

Prashanti Nilayam, organized by the Women’s Wing of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva

Organization. The festival was inaugurated by Bhagavan on the morning of July

31st, by lighting a ceremonial lamp. The whole of Sai Kulwant Hall was

tastefully decorated with a rural motif.

Mrs Sylvia addressing the audience on July 31st

After inaugurating the festival, Swami blessed four lady speakers to address the

gathering. The first speaker, Dr. Rajeshwari Patel, Reader in English, in the

Ananthapur Campus, spoke of the universality of Indian Culture. She said that

the Vedas are the earliest body of spiritual literature and the most spiritual;

as they deal with the superiority of the Spirit. Sanathana Dharma does not

promote dogma but is primarily experiential in nature, where “success’ is

defined by the stage when he is able to say, “I have seen God”. The second

speaker, Ms. Nandini, a Sri Lankan diplomat and Human Rights lawyer, spoke of

her Buddhist back-ground and said she was able to understand the true meaning

of all of the Buddha’s teachings only from Bhagavan and that His teachings show

the universality of all religions. She asserted that she had found nirvana at

His Divine lotus feet.

The third speaker, Mrs. Sylvia, Vice-President, Region 6, USA, referring to her

Christian back-ground said she had found it difficult to fear God and love Him

at the same time! She spoke of a great emptiness and yearning till she came to

Swami.

Priya Sisters in Concert

Describing Bhagavan as total, complete and unconditional love, she said that

millions were attracted to Him because of the universality of His teachings and

not for His religion. The last speaker of the morning was Dr. Zeba Bashiruddin,

Professor of English, Ananthapur Campus, who spoke about the one God and His

many aspects.

Chains for both the sisters

The evening of July 31st, saw a scintillating performance of Carnatic Music by

the Priya Sisters. Swami was deeply engrossed in their music and simultaneously

created two chains for both the sisters to show His appreciation. He also gave

clothes to all the artistes. The concert was a nice way to bring this memorable

month of July to a close.

Veena Concert on August 1

The morning of the second day of the Festival of Indian Culture and Spirituality

on August 1, 2004, started with a violin concert by Mrs. Padma Krishnamurthy,

lecturer in Music at the Music College. She was accompanied by Sri Anant Rao on

the Mridangam and Sri Sai Dutt on the Gangira.

August 1 Panel Discussion on Mother Sita

The violin concert was followed by a panel discussion on: “Mother Sita - the

ideals and values she stood for”. The panel consisted of four faculty members

from the Anantapur campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.

The panel was moderated by Mrs. Chetana, an alumnus of the Ananthapur College.

The panel examined questions like:Can Sita still be a role model for the

modern, educated woman? What makes Mother Sita dear to everyone? How is Her

life related to the values Bhagavan exhorts us to follow? The panel also

examined issues like – While Sri Rama is considered the embodiment of Dharma,

what is the role of Sita and Her place in all this?

The speakers had researched the topic thoroughly and the discussion was of a

very high order. Bhagavan manifested a ring for one of the faculty members and

talked with all of the panel members at the conclusion of the discussion. (

Watch out for the broadcast of the panel discussion on Radio Sai, very soon)

Sita going to the forest

The festival came to a close in the afternoon of August 1, 2004, with a drama by

the Bala Vikas children of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization of Habsiguda,

Hyderabad District, Andhra Pradesh. The theme of the drama entitled

“Saadhvimani Sita”, presented very vividly the virtues embodied in Mother Sita.

When Sri Rama sends her to the forest, she does not say even one word against

Sri Rama. She brings up her sons Lava and Kusa, with the sole intention of

eventually handing them over to their father.

Lava and Kusa in Sage Valmikis ashram

As a dutiful mother she brings up her sons under the direct tutelage of Valmiki,

thus providing moral exhortation and spiritual illumination to the young ones.

Mother Sita’s love, devotion and self-esteem is the confluence that keeps us in

constant awareness that pain and gain are the two sides of the life-coin and we

should fix all our thoughts on the Lord and make our lives pious and

purposeful.

Swami with the children after the drama

What pleasant and unforgettable days! Each day was a veritable feast for the

eyes, ears and the soul. Everyone was blessed- the organizers, the participants

and the audience- not only to be a part of all this, but also to bask in His

Divine Presence. After all it is only in His happiness that we find our own!

Source: Radio Sai E-Magazine, August 15,

2004http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_02/16Aug15/09_Prasanthi_Diary/diary.htmDo

You ?

 

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram,

 

I witnessed the programmes mentioned, till the morning of 29 July. They were

BLISS PERSONIFIED. So So Wonderful. Every programme performed at the Lotus

Feet of Bhagwan is divine bliss, and is enjoyed by all. We have something to

learn from every play performed. It has a message and A moral for Sai

devotes. Prashanti is REALLY a HEAVEN ON EARTH!

 

With Sai Love to all,

 

Denaz